Adapter for side hook arm

ABSTRACT

An adapter for a windshield wiper assembly is provided. The adapter includes a hooking portion adapted to selectively receive a left hand drive hook or a right hand drive hook of a wiper arm, the hooking portion including a body formed of side plates that are parallel to each other and a connector extending between the side plates such that the side plates extend above and below the connector, the connector extending parallel to the side plates, an attaching portion adapted to be connected to a wiper and a connection portion attached to the hooking portion and the attaching portion at opposite ends. The hooking portion and the attaching portion are positioned in a side-by-side configuration and are parallel to each other. The hooking portion is symmetrical about a central portion so to be capable of selectively receiving the left hand drive hook or the right hand drive hook of the wiper arm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/734,384, filed Jan. 4, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/583,933 filed on Jan. 6, 2012, thedisclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention are directed generally to adapters for awindshield wiper arm. More particularly, the embodiments of theinvention are directed to adapters configured to cooperate with one ormore windshield wiper arm having a side hook design.

Discussion of the Related Art

Various types of windshield wiper arms are available which utilizerespective adapters for connection of windshield wiper assemblies to thewindshield wiper arms, respectively. Thus, a particular adapter may beusable with a particular type of windshield wiper arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide adapters usablewith different windshield wiper arms of windshield wiper assemblies.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an adapter for awindshield wiper assembly includes a hooking portion adapted to receivea hook of a wiper arm, an attaching portion adapted to be connected to awiper, and a connection portion attached to the hooking portion and theattaching portion at opposite ends. The hooking portion and theattaching portion are positioned in a side-by-side configuration and areparallel to each other.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments of the adapter of the invention are shown inthe attached drawings, and an adapter and windshield wiper arm areconfigured to cooperate as shown in some of the drawings. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adapter according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the adapter according to anembodiment of the invention from a different angle.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from a bottom angle of the adapteraccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the adapter according to anembodiment of the invention cooperating with a 9×4 hook.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the adapter according to anembodiment of the invention cooperating with a 9×3 hook.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the adapter according to anembodiment of the invention cooperating with a hook of a windshieldwiper arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, example embodiments of this invention will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 1-6. Like reference numerals designatelike elements throughout the specification. The drawings show severalviews of an adapter, and also show several views of the adapter and awindshield wiper arm in an attached configuration. The adapter has afirst portion that receives or cooperates with a windshield wiper armand a second portion that extend from the first portion. The firstportion has one or more locks that are arranged, and/or has one or morelock releases that are also arranged. The windshield wiper arm may be aside hook design, and may be a 9×3 hook or a 9×4 hook. The adapter isusable with either a right or left hand drive seat automobile.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the adapter. FIG. 2 shows anotherperspective view of the adapter from a different angle, and shows locksand/or lock releases. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from a bottomangle. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the adapter cooperating with a9×4 hook. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the adapter cooperatingwith a 9×3 hook. FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the adaptercooperating with a hook of a windshield wiper arm, and having the locksand/or lock releases.

In FIG. 1, shown is an adapter according to an embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 1, the adapter 100 includes a hooking portion 200, anattaching portion 300, and a connecting portion 400. The attachingportion 300 is connected to the hooking portion 200 via the connectingportion 400, and is a portion that is configured to be attached to abracket of a windshield wiper blade. The attaching portion 300 and thehooking portion 200 are separated by a gap 402. The attaching portion300 includes a main body 310 formed of a pair of main walls 311, a pairof lateral walls 312, a top surface 313, and corners 314. The main walls311 are formed perpendicular to the top surface 313, and in turn, theside walls 312 are formed perpendicular to both the main walls 311 andthe top surface 313. Accordingly, the main walls 311, the side walls 312and the top surface 313 form a shell.

In the embodiments of the invention, the corners 314 are shown as beingrounded, but in other embodiments of the invention, the corners 314 maybe sharp or with edges. The main body also includes a pair of recessflanges 320 that define a recess 321 having a receiving slot 322. Thereceiving slot 322 may be rounded, and the recess 321 may have a flaredopening. Disposed between the respective recess flanges 320 and the mainwall 311 are slits 323 that allow for the recess flanges 320 to bendoutward. The recess flanges 320, the recess 321, and the slits 323extend perpendicularly from the top surface 313. Accordingly, the recessflanges 320, the recess 321, and the slits 323 are generally parallel.The main body 310 is generally symmetrical about a middle portion of themain body 310 where the recess 321 is located.

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the adapter according to anembodiment of the invention from a different angle. The hooking portion200 includes a body 210 formed of side plates 211, and a connector 220formed in between the side plates 211 and connecting the side plates211. The hooking portion 200 further includes lower locks 230 and upperlocks 260. The body 210 has a first portion 212 and a second portion 213that are generally symmetrical about a middle portion of the body 210where the lower locks 230 and the upper locks 260 are located. The pairof side plates 211 extend parallel to each other.

The connector 220 has rounded portions 221, a surface 222, and apertures223. The apertures 223 are disposed between the rounded portions 221 andthe surface 222.

The connecting portion 400 is attached to one of the plates 211 of thehooking portion 200 and to one of the main walls 311 of the attachingportion 310. A surface 401 of the connecting portion 400 extends betweenthe one of the plates 211 and the one of the main walls 311.

In embodiments of the invention, the hooking portion 200 and theattaching portion 300 are positioned in a side-by-side configuration andare parallel to each other.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from a bottom angle of the adapteraccording to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, thehooking portion 200 includes lower locks 230 extending through holes inone of the plates 211. The lower locks 230 are connected to pedals 232through arms 231. The pedals 232 are attached to wings 236. The pedals232 include first stoppers 235. In turn, the wings 236 are also attachedto vanes 233 that are attached to the plates 211, whereby slits 234separate the vanes 233 from the pedals 232.

The arms 231 are parallel to each other, and are also parallel to thewings 236. The pedals 232 are parallel to each other, and are alsoparallel to the vanes 233 and the slits 234. Accordingly, the arms 231are perpendicular to the pedals 232, the vanes 233, and the slits 234.The first stoppers 235 have ramp shapes, and have bases that areattached to the pedals 232. The first stoppers 235 have inclinedsurfaces that extend away from the surfaces of the pedals 232. As shownin FIG. 3, the lower locks 230 are disposed below the connector 220.Support bars 240 are formed on one of the side plates 211.

In embodiments of the invention, the upper locks 260 are connected tosurfaces (or wings) 226 in a similar manner as the connection betweenthe lower locks 230 to the wings 236.

As also shown in FIG. 3, the attaching portion 300 includes outer walls315 and inner walls 316. In FIG. 3, alignment of the recess flanges 320are shown. For example, the recess flanges are parallel to each other,and a pair of recess flanges 320 that are aligned from one later side toan opposite later side of the attaching portion 300 are parallel to theinner walls 316. In view of FIG. 1, the outer walls 315 include the mainwalls 311 and the side walls 312. Accordingly, the inner walls aredisposed between the recess flanges 320 and the side walls 312.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the hooking portion 200 and the attachingportion 300 are parallel to each other. Moreover, the hooking portion200 and the attaching portion 300 are together symmetrical about an axisthat extends from the lower locks to the recess 321.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the adapter according to anembodiment of the invention cooperating with a 9×4 hook. First, FIG. 4shows the hooking portion 200 with various hole and recessconfigurations in one of the side plates 211. The side plate 211includes a first hole 250, a second hole 251, a third hole 252, and afourth hole 253. Also, the side plate 211 has a first recess 255, asecond recess 256, a first extension 255 and a second extension 257. Asshown in FIG. 4, each of the first, second, third and fourth holes 250,251, 252 and 253, each of the first and second recesses 255, 256, andeach of the first and second extensions 255, 257 have a symmetricalcounterpart about a beam 258.

As shown in FIG. 4, a hook 600 may be engaged to the hooking portion200, so that the hook 600 grabs the connector 220. Also, the attachingportion 300 may be engaged to a bracket 500 of a windshield wiper blade.Accordingly, the hook 600 is attached to the bracket 500 through theadapter 100. In FIG. 4, shown is a 9×4 hook.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a hook 700 may be engaged to thehooking portion 200, so that the hook 700 grabs the connector 220. Also,the attaching portion 300 may be engaged to a bracket 500 of awindshield wiper blade. Accordingly, the hook 700 is attached to thebracket 500 through the adapter 100. In FIG. 5, shown is a 9×3 hook.

FIG. 6 shows a view of the adapter according to an embodiment of theinvention cooperating with a hook of a windshield wiper arm. Inparticular, FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the hooking portion200 and the hook 600. The cross sectional view of the hooking portion200 reveals inner details of the connector 220. For example, theconnector 220 includes lower surfaces (or wings) 226 and second stoppers225. The second stoppers 225 have ramp shapes, and have bases that areattached to the lower surfaces 226. The second stoppers 225 haveinclined surfaces that extend away from the lower surfaces 226.

When the hooking portion 200 and the hook 600 are engaged, an end 601 ofthe hook 600 becomes wedged between two first stoppers 235, and at leastone of the first stoppers 235 rests within an aperture 602 of the hook600. To release the end 601 of the hook 600 from the two first stoppers235, the lower locks 230 may be urged upward so that the first stoppers235 will move out of the way of the end 601 of the hook 600.

Alternatively, when the hooking portion 200 and the hook 700 areengaged, an end of the hook 700 may become wedged between the two secondstoppers 225. To release the end of the hook 700 from the two secondstoppers 255, the upper locks 260 may be urged upward so that the secondstoppers 235 will move out of the way of the end of the hook 700.

The invention thus being described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. For example, an upper surface of each side wallof the bracket may have a notch formed therein if necessary toaccommodate various adapters. Such variations are not to be regarded asa departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. An adapter for a windshield wiper assembly, theadapter comprising: an elongated hooking portion adapted to selectivelyreceive a left hand drive hook or a right hand drive hook of a wiperarm, the hooking portion including: a body formed of side plates thatare parallel to each other along the length of the hooking portion; anda connector extending between the side plates such that the side platesextend above and below the connector, the connector extending parallelto the side plates; an elongated attaching portion adapted to beconnected to a wiper; and a connection portion attached to the hookingportion and the attaching portion at opposite ends, wherein the hookingportion and the attaching portion are positioned in a side-by-sideconfiguration and are parallel to each other, and wherein the hookingportion is symmetrical about a plane transverse to a central portionthereof so to be capable of selectively receiving the left hand drivehook or the right hand drive hook of the wiper arm on opposing ends. 2.The adapter of claim 1, wherein the attaching portion comprises: a mainbody including a pair of recess flanges that define a recess having areceiving slot; and slits in the main body that that allow for therecess flanges to bend outward.
 3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein thehooking portion further comprises lower locks and upper locks disposedat a middle portion of the body.
 4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein oneof the side plates include an aperture to enable the lower locks and theupper locks to extend through the one side plate.
 5. The adapter ofclaim 3, wherein the body has a first portion and a second portion thatare generally symmetrical about the middle portion of the body where thelower locks and the upper locks are located.